Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre at Risk of Demolition

Failure to advertise puts building at risk

In less than 5 weeks bulldozers are set to roll into King George V Park, Bonnyrigg, to raze all, or most, of the Leisure Centre to the ground. The previous administration neglected to formally advertise that they would donate it to the community if a sustainable plan was found.As a result, only a small group, came up with a proposal to use the back hall as a soft play and cafe.Under current proposals they will demolish at least 2 halls, soft play, cafe, warehouse and 12 rooms at a cost of £100,000.In February 2010, ahead of the building of a new Lasswade Centre, the council agreed to ‘dispose’ of the building within King George V Park.The council has since refused to confirm or deny whether it will be pulled down, only that: ““No business case has yet been received to retain the entire building, and a report will be made to Council on June 15.”The park is regulated by the Fields in Trust charity, set-up to safeguard recreational spaces, it cannot be sold commercially and must be for community use.Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Community Council chairman Darius Namdaran, claims that local residents have not been adequately informed of the council plans for the centre and want an opportunity to examine reuse of the whole building.He asked the Petitions Committee for it to be advertised to the wider community and for cooperation. His plea was rejected when councillors Margo Russell (Lab), Jim Muirhead (Lab) Derek Rosie (SNP) voted against it.He said afterwards: ““We are calling a demonstration to invite people to show that they want to have a chance at designing their own youth centre, flexible indoor play, social centre and village hall in this building. We’re asking for a year to work together and decide as a community what would be best for the people of Bonnyrigg."Green MSP for Midlothian Alison Johnston has now put her weight behind the campaign by tabling a motion, calling for the building to be saved, at the Scottish Parliament.She said: “I hope Midlothian Council can see the sense in retaining Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre. “It’s clearly a valued local resource and at the very least the council should wait until it has consulted on its Neighbourhood Plan before deciding its future. Local facilities like this centre are often the glue that holds our communities together.”Midlothian councillor Ian Baxter is angry that the views of the public are not being taken into consideration: “Consultation is due to begin in August on the Bonnyrigg Neighbourhood Plan. This involves asking individuals and community groups what facilities they would like in the town. Yet, just weeks before they are asked, Midlothian Council plans to pull down the one building that people might think could fulfill all their needs. This is madness. Towns and villages up and down the country are crying out for community buildings and village halls but are told there's no money to build them. Here, Midlothian Council wants to pay someone to get rid of one and then ask people what they want."Councillor Margot Russell explained her decision not to back the campaign: “Community groups in other area have been successful in taking over public buildings and so it’s sad that this group has left it too late. They didn’t come up with a proper plan.” Campaigners say: “Our ‘proper plan’ is to include this building in Midlothian Council’s Neighbourhood Plan consultation. We refuse to be drawn into Labour’s tactic of making one group compete against another. The community should not be divided and blamed for being “too late” when this opportunity was not formally advertised. The building is big enough for every group to collaborate and get what they want. The Council should take responsibility for its mistake and give Bonnyrigg a year.”